Methodology
Lakeshore Advantage and partnering organizations interviewed over 120 lakeshore-area executives in Allegan, Muskegon and Ottawa counties to understand their companies’ growth opportunities and obstacles. We interviewed before and after the COVID-19 crisis to gain real comparisons on how the global pandemic shifted mindsets, growth plans and the bottom line for companies in our region.
Our diverse manufacturing base helped to create some economic stability throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
Total Company Sales
Companies reporting increasing or stable sales are in these industries:
Advanced Manufacturing
Durable Goods Manufacturing
Food Processing
International Sales as % of Total Company Sales
Industries reporting increasing or stable international sales include:
Aerospace
Automotive
Durable Goods Manufacturing
Our diverse manufacturing base helped to create some economic stability throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
Total Company Sales
Companies reporting increasing or stable sales are in these industries:
Food Processing
Durable Goods Manufacturing
Advanced Manufacturing
International Sales as % of Total Company Sales
Industries reporting increasing or stable international sales include:
Aerospace
Automotive
Durable Goods Manufacturing
New Products, Pivots, Partnerships and Projects
New Products Anticipated
While down slightly from pre-COVID numbers, 3 out of 4 respondents anticipate new products in the next 2 years.
Industries anticipating new products include:
Advanced Manufacturing
Aerospace
Automotive
Durable Goods Manufacturing
Food Processing
Changes that companies will be making in the next 6 months.
Plans to expand in the next 3 years
While down from pre-COVID numbers, over half of the region’s primary employers plan to expand in the next three years.
Big Partnerships and Innovations
GHSP developed grēnlite™, a UV-C treatment light in partnership with UV Angel for air sanitization. Soundoff Signal will deploy this technology to emergency response vehicles.
Solismatica harnessed the capabilities of Power BI to network hundreds of 3-D printers and a caring network of other businesses including Hybrid Machining, volunteers and donors to provide thousands of PPE items nationwide.
Volta builds advanced energy systems for RVs, work trucks and marine applications. Market demand has exploded with increased outdoor recreation.
Big Projects
City of Zeeland
- $9.4m investment
- 36k sq ft three-story chemistry lab and prototyping
City of Holland
- $60+m investment
- 150k sq ft cold storage, manufacturing capacity
- 40k sq ft dry goods warehouse
- 2 expansion projects this year, 4th expansion in the past 3 years
City of Holland and Holland Charter Township
- $27m investment
- 357k sq ft distribution center
- 66k sq ft warehousing facility
- 2 expansion projects this year, 3rd expansion in the last 2 years
Leighton Township
- $5.4m investment
- 145k sq ft food grade storage
Whitehall, Muskegon County
- $9.6m investment
- Consolidated North American operations from Texas
Norton Shores, Muskegon County
- $3.8m investment
- 30k sq ft corporate facility
Year-over-Year Successful Projects
Lakeshore Advantage Service Area (Allegan and Ottawa Counties)
Even through the global pandemic, dirt was moving and companies expanded in West Michigan. In 2020, we had fewer expansion projects, but higher company investment per project which resulted in higher overall private investment than we experienced last year.
2019 Expansion Stats:
Per-Project Averages
$6m average in private investment
48 average jobs created/retained
55k square feet
2020 Expansion Stats:
Per-Project Averages
$11m average in private investment
47 average jobs created/retained
77k square feet
Year-over-Year Expansions by Industry
2019 Projects
Food Processing
Hudsonville Ice Cream, Big Dutchman,
Mead Johnson, Pangea Reptile
Automotive Manufacturing
Daimay, GHSP, SoundOff Signal
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Perrigo
Advanced Manufacturing & Automation
Koops, MFP Automation, ICE Robotics
Plastic & Rubber Product Manufacturing
Plascore, Royal Technologies
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
DeWys Manufacturing
Machinery Manufacturing
Tric Tool, Competition Engineering
IT & Technical Services
BizStream
Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing
Kaidi
Packaging Manufacturing
ITB Packaging
Durable Goods Manufacturing
Composite Builders, Artisan Medical Displays
2020 Projects
Food Processing
Hudsonville Ice Cream, cold storage,
Hudsonville Ice Cream, dry goods
warehouse, Pangea Reptile, Request Foods
Automotive Manufacturing
Gentex, GHSP
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Perrigo, distribution center, City of Holland,
Perrigo, distribution center, Holland Charter Township
Advanced Manufacturing & Automation
Koops
Plastic & Rubber Product Manufacturing
KAM Plastics
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
Preferred Welding
Machinery Manufacturing
FEMA Corp
Warehousing & Storage
Classic Transportation
Beverage, Brewery and Distillery
Tantrick Brewing
Expansion Trends
Lakeshore Advantage Service Area (Allegan and Ottawa Counties)
Current Expansion Pipeline Outlook
24% of Lakeshore Advantage’s expansion project pipeline is automation companies or automation solution providers
Site Search Requests
Average requested building size was 94k–138k square feet
96% of projects were looking for
existing buildings
Vacancy Rate
Colliers Industrial Report, West Michigan
Q3 2020 industrial vacancy rate = 1.04%
Q3 2019 industrial vacancy rate = 1.21%
Current Expansion Pipeline Outlook
24% of Lakeshore Advantage’s expansion project pipeline is automation companies or automation solution providers
Site Search Requests
Average requested building size was 94k–138k square feet
96% of projects were looking for
existing buildings
Vacancy Rate
Colliers Industrial Report, West Michigan
Q3 2020 industrial vacancy rate = 1.04%
Q3 2019 industrial vacancy rate = 1.21%
Trends
COVID-19 has illuminated the need for Industry 4.0 practices within our manufacturing sector to tackle issues like remote machine operation, operating efficiency, predictive maintenance, line down time and quality control. Industry 4.0 education and implementation will be a focus of Lakeshore Advantage in 2021.
With the technology implemented and our major manufacturers shifting, the talent needs are changing as well. Availability and accessibility of higher education classes and certification to support Industry 4.0 growth will be equally important in 2021 and beyond. An initial exploratory group has been formed to explore a community college millage – another future priority for the Lakeshore Advantage team.
As our economy and technology change, the Lakeshore Advantage team continues to ensure our community has a competitive advantage.
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